Re: Strategic Special Nuclear Material

["David L. Wannigman" <DWannigman@lanl.gov>]

SNM = Special Nuclear Material

Special because of its "unique" applications!

NRC defines SNM as:  Plutonium, uranium-233, uranium enriched in the 
isotope 233 or in the isotope 235, and any other material that the 
Commission, pursuant to the provisions of section 51 of the Act, determines 
to be special nuclear material, but does not include source material;  or  
any material artificially enriched by any of the foregoing but does not 
include source material.

Note:  Source material is basically uranium and thorium and their ores.

Thus, I guess that "SNM of low strategic significance" would be isotopes of 
Pu and U that are in such low quantities or low enrichment levels that they 
could not readily be used for strategic purposes.

Hope that helps.

David Wannigman
Dwannigman@lanl.gov